Quotations from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a drama film about a beloved man who was picked by the governor to replace a U.S. Senator after his death. The man, Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) is a well accomplished but naive man who the governor thinks he can easily manipulate. Of course, once Smith gets to Washington and sees it for what it really is, his naivety changes. Directed by Frank Capra. Starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Harry Carey, and Claude Rains. Based on the story by Lewis R. Foster.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington won the Oscar award for Best Writing, Original Story. This film was added to the National Film Registery for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Read some quotes from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington below.

Jefferson Smith: Boy, you should have been there!
Clarissa Saunders: I know, it was a wonderful party, and your suit went over big, and she looked beautiful, and when you left she said, "Thank you, Mr. Smith," but it was the way she said it, you nearly fell through the floor. Horseradish!
Clarissa Saunders: They're not letting what Jeff says get printed in the state. Now if I give you a raft of it over the phone, can you print it up and spread a billion copies? Swell! Get ready to take this down, Mrs. Smith.
Ma Smith: Boys, everything about Jeff, get pencils and paper.
Jefferson Smith: Either I'm dead right, or I'm crazy!
Jefferson Smith: You see, boys forget what their country means by just reading The Land of the Free in history books. Then they get to be men they forget even more. Liberty's too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: I'm free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn't, I can, and my children will. Boys ought to grow up remembering that.
Senator Joseph Paine: I wish to ask my distinguished colleague, has he one scrap of evidence to add now to the defense he did not give and could not give at that same hearing?
Jefferson Smith: I have no defense against forged papers!
Senator Joseph Paine: Mr. President, will the Senator yield?
President of Senate: Will the Senator yield?
Jefferson Smith: No, sir, I'm afraid not, no sir. I yielded the floor once before, if you can remember, and I was practically never heard of again. No sir. And we might as well all get together on this yielding business right off the bat, now.
James Taylor: I want you to let the ballyhoo boys loose, plan a celebration, and declare a holiday.
Clarissa Saunders: [shouts] Yippee!
Jefferson Smith: You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked. Well, I'm not licked. And I'm going to stay right here and fight for this lost cause. Even if the room gets filled with lies like these, and the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place.
Clarissa Saunders: How many times have you heard me say "I'm fed up with politics" and I... no, I let him talk me into staying. Secretary to a leader of little squirts! Why? Because I need the job and a new suit of clothes!
Diz Moore: Would you settle for a husband?
Clarissa Saunders: Mmm, I sure would!
Next: Mutiny on the Bounty
More 1930s movie quotesLast update: Thu, 01/25/2018 - 06:09